Case against soldier who fired shots in Silwan closed

After 13 witnesses subpoenaed, State Prosecutor's Office decides not to try haredi Nahal soldier who wounded two Palestinians in east Jerusalem. Left-wing organizations petition ruling, say 'it was point-blank shooting at unarmed civilians'

Shmulik Grossman|Published: 07.09.10 , 15:38

Nearly a year after two Palestinians from the Silwan neighborhood of east Jerusalem were shot and injured, the Jerusalem District State Prosecutor's Office announced on Friday its decision to close the case against A., the Nahal Haredi soldier who fired the shots.

A. explained that he opened fire at a 16-year-old boy and a 40-year-old man out of a real fear for his life. The State Prosecution explained that they were not able to gather enough evidence for the file.

The shooting incident sparked riots in the neighborhood during which local Arabs started throwing stones at its Jewish residents. The soldier was arrested for investigation, and claimed he acted out of self-defense because his life was in danger. Later, Ahmad Kar'in, the older of the two wounded Palestinians, was detained for investigation both as the victim of a shooting and a suspect in assault.

At the end of a lengthy investigation of 13 witnesses, the decision was made to close the case. This evoked the ire of leftist organizations, which appealed the decision in court.

"This is a terrible and infuriating event that took place at the end of the Ramadan fast," said Attorney Ido Tamari from the organization Yesh Din.

"Two Israeli men armed with a rifle crossed into Silwan. An argument that broke out between local residents concluded, within a few minutes, in the point-blank shooting of three bullets at unarmed civilians," he said.

Tamari demanded that the soldier be tried in court, and said that the shooting left one of the men permanently handicapped.

A., a resident of the Old City in Jerusalem, was released to his home within a short time and returned to serve in his unit. He said that he opened fire at the two after one of them forcefully grabbed his weapon, and, together with others, tried to snatch it from his possession.

Yesh Din claimed that a review of the investigation material shows that the speedy deterioration of the situation between the two sides resulted from "religious-racist motives." Among other things, they based their analysis on a quotation from the soldier when asked why he fired his gun and answered, "I did a mitzvah."